A SHROUD OF FOG – A SHROUD OF GOLD DUST

Hilton Head Island was wrapped in a shroud of fog several days ago. Cold ocean water from the rapture of the deep moved by upwelling met warmer air from our landmass, creating fog. Shortly after, a blanket of pollen that looked like gold dust covered the island.

While temperatures in colder climes plunged into the teens, single digits or below, our island temps were often in the balmy 60’s and low 70’s with beautiful sun-filled days. The weather complimented a variety of events, not the least of which was the vast, changing salt marshes which were transforming, the changes in mud and grasses mostly unnoticed by the human eye. Early nest builders like the Bald Eagle gathered the breaking brown cord grass, gathering stalks for their nests. Occasionally, according to local master naturalist, Captain Patte Ranney, large white pelicans (related to our more common Brown Pelican) stop in our area while migrating this time of year from the Gulf to Canada. Normally they fly high overhead and are not observed at all. Consider it one of nature’s gifts if you ever see them.

A Lowcountry native, I never especially noticed the rust-colored marshes in the fall. One year an artist came to Hilton Head to paint some representational paintings for a local gallery. Among his work were a few rust-colored marsh scenes touched with umber. Now when I see rust and umber colored marsh I think of the artist, Harvey Kidder. Artists teach us about the world we live in; art informs the spirit. Hilton Head has long been an artist’s paradise. One of the largest membership groups on the island is the Art League of Hilton Head. I was involved in the group early on and served on the board for 16 years. Most of the artists I’ve met over time tend to be not only creative but interesting and gentle people.

Among the many art galleries on the island is the highly regarded Red Piano Gallery, co-owned (Morris-Whiteside) by Jack Morris, the former director of the Greenville County Museum which has one of the finest collections of Andrew Wyeth paintings in the United States. At one time a former owner of the gallery, Louanne LaRoche, featured the works of the famous Seattle-based glass artist Dale Chihuly, who has been designated a National Living Treasure. His work is in museums and collections all over the world. One of his fascinating installations took place in Venice, Italy. It consisted of 14 temporarily mounted enormous chandeliers over the canals and in the palazzos. It was a thrill to see his work here.

The annual Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, fashioned after a popular wine special event founded by the Wall Street Journal, was held toward the end of January. The non-profit’s proceeds from a Silent Auction benefited educational opportunities for students in the Hospitality Management study programs at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and the Technical College of the Lowcountry. This effort is also supported through the John F. and Valarie Curry scholarship Fund.

Another popular event was the Lowcountry Soup Challenge, held at the elegant Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. Numerous restaurants were involved (we have over 200 restaurants). The Challenge helps fund the island’s non-profit Volunteer’s in Medicine, a free health clinic. First place was awarded to Hugo’s Seafood and Steak House for their Crab and Asparagus Cappuccino Soup with hazelnut broth and asiago cheese crackers. One year a former New Orleans resident, Ken Ballard, the owner of Kenny B’s French Quarter Café took first place with a Swamp Critter Stew. The chefs have a lot of fun with this “challenge”.

Some of our Indian Summer days brought out people wearing shorts and flip flops, fishing with long cane poles in a tributary off of Broad Creek in the shadow of Shelter Cove marina where sea-going yachts and sleek fishing motor yachts pulled at lines. An influx of our No. 1 real estate market, the Canadians, descended on the island, taking advantage of the exchange rate and low interest rates, driving more real estate sales.

Sales results of 2012 compared with 2011 show solid gains throughout the island. With closed sales up 10% to 177 the average price in Sea Pines is up 7% to $907,213 compared with $853,245 a year ago. Current inventory is 188 with homes averaging 93% of list price. We have clearly seen the recovery in residential sales island-wide continue.

The big winner in 2012 was villas with an exciting 20% jump in sales and a 3% increase in selling price. Inventory was down 10% from 2011. This positive trend is expected to continue in 2013 with strong sales, attractive prices and amazing interest rates.

The Sea Pines Resort had a phenomenal year in 2012, with an increase in occupancy, revenue and rental rates across the board. Home and villa revenue was up 16% from 2011 to 2012! This year we are off to a great start with future bookings 11% ahead of where we were last year. We are anticipating another banner year!

Showers of Stars Fell Over Hilton Head Island

Adding to the excitement of the holiday season were meteor showers!  As the Earth crossed the orbital Temple-Tuttle bits and pieces from this comet burned up as Leonid meteors in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.

The Leonid shower produces some of history’s most spectacular displays.  Many islanders, as well as other earth-bound creatures, were up early to witness the event. The showers are easily observed over Hilton Head, unlike cities where tall buildings and an abundance of lights block the stars.

Holiday productions such as “The Nutcracker” enchanted viewers; Christmas parties were in abundance.  One in particular creates a special ambience each year.  It is hosted by Kate and Russ Keep, popular, long-time islanders who enjoy entertaining.  In some homes it is easy to see “pride of place” manifested in the way things are done, as well as great attention paid to detail.

For this annual party, guests entered a private courtyard through large wrought iron gates decorated with entwined vines of colored Christmas lights.  A stroll past blazing torches led into a home decorated with live greenery: greenery swags caught with red bows at windows, a large beautifully decorated Christmas tree, a fire burning in a fireplace lined with antique metal fire plates depicting scenes of gaiety.  The plates reflect the heat out into the room, an important feature before central heating.  Servers offered champagne and later, passed trays of hors d’oeuvre.

Even a cursory look at this home tells the viewer that the owners are incurable collectors.  World travelers, they have a fascinating collection of treasures:  Flemish tapestries hang on walls; antique furnishings add a soft, burnished glow.  There is a Tuscany wine-tasting room complete with stucco-swiped walls and old wooden ceiling beams; a statue of Bachus, the Roman God of wine, looking down from high in a corner with his horns and hoofed feet.  In the center of the room is a “wine jail,” a wrought iron Spanish-looking safe holding a gross of bottles under lock and key. 

On the rear patio, pine logs burned popping and shooting up sparks from a Chiminea, warming the crisp but still mild air.  Guests like to gather here, under the stars, near a Koi pond and a bubbling waterfall.  Beyond is a natural wooded area and a mature stand of Black Bamboo.  Later, after a sumptuous buffet featuring fried turkey, Kate played her mother’s Baby Grand piano, which she learned to play as a young girl.  When guests finally departed they were filled with Christmas spirit!

International travel is impacting the United States.  The National Association of Realtors Global Research Report for 2012 reports that international buyers purchased $83 billion dollars of U.S. real estate last year.  Hilton Head has been a prime destination for international travelers for many years.  We’ve had many buyers of island properties from other countries, especially England.  The island is a top destination for Canadians who comprise our Number 1 market in sales to international buyers.  Sales are up 24 percent of international sales, up from 11 percent in 2007.

Nancy Kemeny was on-island from London, England before Thanksgiving.  Her husband, Tom, stayed in their London home to attend to business while Nancy enjoyed their Hilton Head home, which they have owned for many years.  The family later met at another home in Barbados for Christmas.

Dana and Diederik Advocaat, accompanied by their teenaged sons Alexander and William flew from their home in London, England to spend the holidays on Hilton Head.  The family usually vacations here in the summer and has for many years.  They plan to retire here.

Katherine and James Kapps enjoyed their second “retired” Christmas in their beachside home.  Long-time property owners, they moved to the island from northern Virginia.   Their close friends, the Shirley Beavers, have also moved here and live a couple of houses away from the Kapps!  Katherine Kapps’s sister, Jeannie Lawrence and her husband, Mike, live not far away.  They moved from their Nashville, Tennessee home many years ago to enjoy the island lifestyle.  In the “small world” department, Jeannie’s childhood friend from their early days growing up in Greensboro, N.C., Andy Sonfield and her husband, Bob, live on the same street as Jeannie and Mike!

Bloomberg Business reports that home prices climbed more than forecast in October, indicating a rebounding real-estate market that will bolster the U.S. Economy for the first time in seven years.  On Hilton Head we’re still seeing cash buyers coming into the market, purchasing big-ticket properties as well as lower priced inventory.  One of the most popular price ranges appears to be the $500,000 range but $3 million to $6 million isn’t unusual either.  Regardless of who is buying or what the price is, the purchaser finds the restorative power of Hilton Head an added bonus.